Ice heading machine



June 19, 1951 M. T. MADDOX ICE HEADING MACHINE a Shets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1945 M7730 [Mada ox INVENTOR.

h mhm Afro/Fwy June 19, 1951 M. T. MADDOX ICE HEADING MACHINE 3 Sheets$heet 2 Filed July 5, 1945 Mflfofl T/Waddox INVENTOR.

June 19, 1951 MADDQX 2,557,357

ICE HEADING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 E? E- 5 X INVENTOR. bi: BY

M71271 [Ma/0 0x Patented June 1 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT ()F'FlCE ICE READING MACHINE Milton '1. Maddox, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application July 5, 1945, Serial Nix-HD3385 6 Claims. (01.214-4) I This invention relates to handling devices and it has particular reference to apparatus for handling ice in what is conventionally referred to in the ice industry as heading ice cakes or blocks,

that is, ending up the blocks as they are discharged from the freezing cans, and which operation is ordinarily done by hand. The principal object of the invention, therefore, resides in the provision of apparatus which, by its novel arrangement of parts, receives the ice blocks as the same are discharged from the freezing cans and automatically raises the said blocks to up* right positions whereby manual handling, such tions of the cans, which are rigidly connected,

as loading, storing, and the like, is expedited and thus time and labor is saved.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an ice handling device which is simply and economically constructed, although entirely automatic in operation, and which can be installed in any plant without special adaptations.

and illustrating the motor, the driving mechanism and one of the raising chains.

' Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of one of the actuating chains with lug attached; p

I The invention comprises, primarily, a frame structure I, which is rectangular in plan, having its forward end open at the top as shown par- Yet another object of the invention is manifest provision of a device by which the ice industry,

already seriously affected by automatic refrigeration, can maintain maximum production and efliciency and maximum profits by a saving in operating costs.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates the invention in side elevation showing, in dotted lines, the various positions of the ice cans in heading the ice blocks, the latter being shown in upright position.

Figure 2 shows the invention in plan and illustrates two blocks of ice about to be raised, or headed and showing the automatic reversing mechanism for the ice cans;

Figure 3 fragmentarily illustrates in elevation oneof the automatic locking devices for retaining the ice in the cans. V

Figure 4. is a fragmentary plan view of one of the locking devices shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 fragmentarily illustrates, in perspective, the switch for stopping the electric motor shown in Figures 1, 2 and 8,

Figure is afragmentary illustration, implan,

ticularly in Figure 8. The side members 2 are :tied across the bottom by a relatively thin plate 3 extending beyond the sides 2 to accommodate suitable braces 4 which rigidify the side members 2, in the manner illustrated in Figures 1, 2" and 8.

A pair of receptacles 5, which will be hereinafter referred to as cans 5, are arranged within the frame I so that their open'ends 6 are pivotally connected at 7 to the forward open end of the frame l- Gussets 8 are integrally secured in the lower forward ends of the side members 2 of the frame I, as shown in Figures 1 and 8, in which the pivots l are arranged. The cans are rigidly connected by brackets 9 thereinbetween, shown in Figuresz and 8, and have stub shafts l8 rigidly projecting from the opposite sides of the associated cans '5 and journalled in the gussets 8 providing' the pivots 1.

The cans 5 are thus reclining in the frame I connected thereto only by the pivots l and at their lowermost forward ends 6 sothat they can be raised upon their forward ends through the open'e'n'd of the frame I, in the manner illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1. Normally the cans 5 assume an inclined position in the frame I, their closed ends I I- being rearwardly of the frame I and substantially higher than their forward endst, as illustrated in Figuers 1- and 8. The rearmost ends of the cans 5 are supported upon a laterally disposed member 12 arranged through the frame I to which is attached cushioned elements, or bumpers l3, shown in Figures 1 and 8.

0n opposite sides of the connected cans 5 are levers M rigidly attached to the cans 5 so that their greater longitudinal portions are spaced outwardly from the walls of the cans 5 and extend rearwardly tlne'reof. The levers M function to shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. This is accomplished by chains l5 operating on sprockets i6 and I1. Lugs I8 are rigidly coupled into the chains [5, illustrated in detail in Figure 9, which engage the levers l4 to raise the cans as the sprockets l5 are operated by the motor [9 through the gear arrangement 20 and 2 l.

The lugs I8, shown in detail in Figure 9, are preferably provided with rollers 22, or the like, and may be of any desirable form suitable. for the purpose intended. The levers H are of sumcient length to permit the cans 5 to be completely raised to the vertical positions shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, the rollers 22 serving to minimize the frictional contact between the lugs I8 and the levers M as the cans are raised.

In operation, the invention is positioned directly in front of the chutes (not shown) from which the ice blocks 23 are delivered from the freezing cans. The open end of the frame I is directed towards the chutes so that the open ends 6 of the cans are in alignment with the ice chutes. In some installations it may be desirable to provide guides 24 for the ice blocks directing them into the cans 5 as they slide from the chutes. The blocks 23, usually Weighing 300 pounds, will slide into the cans 5 through their open ends 6, and in so doing, cause the spring actuated latches 25, pivoted vertically on each side of each of the cans 5, to pivot inwardly as shown in dotted lines in Figure.4, and due to their spring action operate to trap the ice blocks 23' within the cans 5 so that the blocks can be raised upright and discharged in their perpendicular positions as illustrated in Figure 1.

As the ice blocks 23 pass into the cans 5 their opposite inner surfaces, that is, the surfaces nearest the connected walls of the cans 5, will engage and depress the springs 26, which are already in engagement with plungers 21 arranged through the walls of the cans 5, bringing together a pair of electrical contacts 28 which closes the circuit of the motor I9. The switch 28 is of the .type which causes the closing of the electrical circuit by a'solenoid,'or the like, since a different switch 29 is provided for opening the motor'circuit and which will-presently be described. It is not intended, however, that the invention be limited to the particular types of switches shown and described since obviously any suitable switch arrangement may be employed.

As the cans 5 are raised, as illustrated in Figure 1, the limitation of the lifting function of the motor I9 is reached when the cans 5 assume the position A shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 since the lugs l8 are now passing over the uppermost sprocket H. The weight of the ice blocks 23, however, will carry the cans 5 on beyond the center of gravity to the position B where the cans 5 are inclined slightly forward to cause the blocks 23 to slide out on their ends. The momentum gained in the sudden forward tilt of the cans 5 will cause the blocks 23 to slide clear of the cans 5.

In their movement forward from the position A to the position B, shown in Figure 1, the levers I4 engage hooks 30 which are positioned in their paths near the top and at the front of the frame I. These hooks 30 are shown particularly in Figure 2 and each is connected to the endsofcables 3| arranged through apertures in gussets 32 of plates 33 suspended to the sides 2 of the frame I. The. cables 3| are passed over pulleys 34 and connected to weights 35. -As the ice blocks 23, therefore, are discharged from the cans 5 the weights exert sufiicient force thereon to urge 4 these members back past the center of gravity whereupon they fall back into their normal inclined positions, the bumpers l3 absorbing the shock of their fall. It is obvious, however, that any suitable shock absorbing devices, such as springs, hydraulic apparatus, or the like, may be resorted to.

It will also be observed that the switch 29, previously referred to, i arranged on one side of the frame i at the forward end thereof. The

switch 29 isof aconventional type and functions similarly to the switch 28 previously described. A lever 36 is arranged on the switch 29, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, which is spring actuated and extends into the path of one of the levers H as the same moves with the cans 5.

Similarly to the hooks 30 the lever 36 is engaged by the lever It as the cans 5 are moved forwardly by the weight of the ice blocks 23 and the switch is operated to open the motor circuit to stop the motor [9. Thus the motor will operate only when ice blocks 23 are in the cans 5 resulting in a saving of electrical current as well as wear on the motor and the driving mechanism. The occurrence of the discharge of the ice blocks from the freezing cans frequently varies and the invention need not be required to function except when the ice blocks are ready to be headed.

Manifestly certain changes and modifications of the invention may beresorted to from time to time by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ice heading machine having a frame, a pair of rigidly connected normally reclining ice cans having pivotal connection forwardly of the saidirame and adapted to be raised to a substantially vertical position therein, a motor and motor-driven means for raising the said cans, a switch for said motor engageable by ice cakes entering said cans to energize said motor, means comprising weighted cables for-tilting the cans toward their normal reclining position when empty and an electric switch for automatically stopping the said motor operated by the movement of the said cans.

2. In an ice heading machine having a frame, a pair of rigidly connected and normally reclining ice cans, the .said' cans being pivoted in the said frametowards the forward end thereof, an electric motor providing means for raising the said cans to a substantially vertical position to discharge the ice therefrom, a switch for said motor in one of said cans actuated by ice cakes entering the same, means comprising weighted cables engageable with said cans for aiding in returning the same to their normal position by gravity after: discharging the ice therefrom, and automatic means actuated by the movement of the said cans for stopping the said motor.

3. In an ice heading machine having a frame and'paired ice cans pivotally arranged therein, the said cans being normally in an inclined position in the said frame and pivoted thereto forwardly thereof, a motor in said frame for raising the said cans to a substantially vertical position in the said frame, means comprising weights on cables engageable with said cans for tilting and returning the same toward their normal inclined positions, and automatic means, actuated by the movement of the said cans, stopping the said motor. a

4. In an ice handling machine having a frame, a pair of rigidly connected ice cans pivotally arranged in an inclined position in the said frame so that the said cans can be raised to a vertical position forwardly of the said frame, a motor and motor-driven means in the said frame operating chains on sprockets raising the said cans to the vertical position, means comprising a Weight aiding in returning the said cans to their normal position, and switches actuated by said cans automatically stopping the said motor.

5. In an ice handling machine having a frame, a pair of rigidly connected ice cans normally reclim'ng in the said frame and pivoted forwardly thereof, a motor and motor driven means raising the said cans on their said pivots to a vertical position, a switch for starting said motor actuated by ice cakes entering said cans, means in the said frame comprising weighted cables engageable with said cans whereby to urge the same toward their normal position therein, and automatic means comprising a switch actuated by said cans in their vertical positions for stopping the said motor.

6. In a machine for heading ice, a frame having a pair of ice cans pivotally arranged therein and normally inclined forwardly of the said frame, a motor and motor driven chains operatively arranged in the said frame for raising the said cans on their pivots to a vertical position, a starting switch for said motor actuated by ice cakes entering said cans, weights operating on cables in the said frame to urge the said cans to past their pivotal center of gravity and toward their normal positions when empty, and a stopping switch actuated by said cans in their vertical positions for stopping the said motor.

MILTON T. MADDOX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 20 1,514,207 Gory Nov. 4, 1924 1,859,501 Durbin May 24, 1932 1,973,767 Kimball et a1 Sept 18, 1934 2,038,758 Paxton Apr. 28, 1936 2,268,220 Marshall Dec. 30, 1941 

